The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1887-1896, 1887-03-20

ueve tnem 10 be old ana tfied fftcnus. Inc eli
max OF my porplexity came, however, when
Cartrlght observed in his dry, quiet tonc Gen
tlcmen, it's almost 0 o'clock. Supper will be
ready In ten minutes. VIII you come through
and have washn And when he added care
lcssly to me, "say, Pat you'll join us this even
do without you until tomorrow simply
nodded in reply and followed him 'in maze.
This confusion of mind lasted until found
myself sitting beside Mike Alison at long deal
table in Cartrights parlor There were present
Tom Hanson, and three other guests, ranchmcn
of the neighborhood and settlers of long stand
ing and considerable property. began TO
wake up n little now, helped matcriallyto Keen
ness Of mental vision by plentiful meal OF an
telopc steak and mutton outlets, succeeded by
canned peaches and cream, which Mrs. Cart
right had provided for us. I felt that opprcs
sive consciousness OF something being about to
happen called prcscntimcnt. could not have
put my coniccturcs Into words to save my HE;
but the subsequent scenes aud incidents which
followed each other in quick succession ceased
to awake the least surprise In my breast. The
men around me took all as matter of course
and so did |.
Mrs. Cartright had left the table, aud The
company, with one exception, were RECALLING
themselves with whisky and cigars. The ex-
ccption was Tom Hanson; and do as would /
could not help looking at nina man had
known intimately---and rem0rkiDg the express
his head resting on his great muscular hand.
His mouth was set In line as hard and straight
as u crack on the face of a granite boulder, and
his cycs-those brown eyes which used TO beam
and dance and twinkle all day long. as only the
eyes of humorous, tcnder-hearted Yankee
can-werc fixed now In dull stare of such
misery and despair that felt pang of abso-
luto physical pain as glanced at them. II was
not necessary to he told In words that Tom and
Edward Hanson had been all In oil to each
other. One look at the face of the surviving
brother was enough.
My reflections upon this subject, however,
were not of long duration; for the cigars OF the
company were scarcely half smoked when Han
son turned his haggard face fully toward us,
and slowly rising from his chair made the fol-
lowing speech His words were clearly pro-
nounccd, and came without apparent effort;
''Gentlemen what l have to say now amt
much news to any OF you. a week ago my
brother Edward was shot. To-day two men
have been tried for the murdcr--nnd acquitted.
Now, some say this is Justice; some say not.
There are folk who believe Cobbett and Grobc
should be hung. Gentlemen, want you to fix
this MS you think right. You represent this
settlement better than the jury who sat to-day,
and tn be your place this evening to say
whether the verdict given few hours ago was
right orwrong. One thing more. By coming
here you have tacitly agreed already TO try this
matter In the usual way; therefore, I've another
duty--to propose Judge. Gentlemen, pro-
Of Toros, be chosen. 1t is In your hands"
Hanson sat down amid low murmur of APP
prevail There was pause. We looked at
each other In doubt for moment, uncertain
who should take the initiative. Then Mike
Alison stood up, his great keen eyes rowing
from face to face while he spoke.
"Gentlemen, / second this proposal. Mr..
Cartright is the straightest man know, and is
therefore far away the best man for the btisi-
ness Of Judge. Hold up your hands. those who
agree"
Every hand was raised.
At this expression of opinion Cartright dis
carded his whisky and laid aside his cigar.
Though n little man, there was true dignity and
power In his tone and manner as he delivered
his reply In deep, musical voice.
81 am gratifed, friends, at this honor. will
accept the responsibility, and do all In my
power to see justice done. Now to business.
The issue before lis is simple one. You were
all present at the trial to-day and heard the evil
dence Tho case for the prosecution hung prin-
cIpally upon the evidence of the paper found In
the pocket of Tulcher, the murderer, whom Ed
ward Hanson shot before he was plugged him
self. This paper was an agreement on the part
of two men to help Tulcher In the business he
had in hand on the 18th instant, for which as
sistance they were to receive thousand dol
lars. The names signed below were Cobbett
and Grobe There was further evidence, you
will remember, proving that Tulcher was the
only man who knew that Edward would have
cash by him on the 18th instant, and be alone
at his rancho. The defense was an alibi, sworn
to by three men, and All attempt to prove that
the paper referred to had nothing to do with
Edward Hanson. The prisoner attorney, how.
ever, refused to say what the agreement did
mean. Such was the case. gentlemen, and the
verdict was, Not guilty. Now, do you confirm
this9 Do you believe in your hearts that Cob
bett and Grobe are innocent, or do you not
The question is before you. Let me hear what
you have to say
The Judge stopped speaking, and there was n
dead silence for more than n minute. Every
mans mind was made up, but no one liked to
be the first to speak. AT last Mike Alison rose
with the grimmest look on his face that | ever
abrupt and his style unceremonious to degree,
sure sign that he was In earnest and meant his
words to carry weight.
"Boys. can see that there is no difference of
opinion among you about this thing. IL is not
likely. You knew what was coming; your
minds must have been made up since the YER
dict. Now, p'rnps you'd like to hear my notion
of the case, as Goblet and Grobc have been
members of my gang. The judge here asked
me to come without any questions, and know
ing that Edward Hanson and nearly pulled on
one another year ago. Well, | came; and
say, as one who was n friend TO Grobe once,
that these men are guilty. The judge and jury
who acquitted them were bribcd to do it.
| could get wind of the amount given now If ]
wanted. There, that's all. You know what
am What have been for eight years past
P'raps you'll say, why does he think Goblet
and Grobe should be hung when he is as bad as
but never put hole through an old man to
get hold of his money: and | think it's the
mennest crime In the whole world"
As the horse-stealer stopped speaking he was
greeted with cheer: but this was htished In an
| instant, as Cartright, suddenly addressing the
man on his right, said CURLY, care they guilty
or not guilty''
"Guilty!'' was the emphatic answer, and the
word was repeated with grim earnestncss by
every man rs his turn came.
"And now" said the judge slowly, Ms the
last vote was given, sit is my duty to pass sen
tence.n..
Cartright paused at this point. He was very
pale, and though his voice was perfectly steady
and his face set with inlexible determination
II was quite evident that he felt this duty to be
no light one.
~ do hereby decree that Sam Goblet and
Jim Grobe being guilty Of the murder of Ed
ward Hanson, on the 18th day of July, shal
die, by hanging, at 3 O'Clock tomorrow morn
ing; and call upon all men here present to ms
sst me, nt whatever risk to themselves, In sec
ing that Justice he done. | do this In virtue o
my authority as Judge Lynch; and swear that
have given judgment without malice TOWARD
any one. So help me God /"
Cartright paused again. We drew Ion,
breath. Then we all rose, as the Judge, taking
from his coat pocket small Bible, said quietly
'Gentleinen, will you please just step up aiit
take your oath on this thingY'
There was general creaking of chairs and
shufflng of feet MS we came forward. Mix
Alison was the first to act; with his right hant
he grasped Cartright's, with his left he held tn
Bible. ~ swear that, at whatever risk 10 m
own life, will sec justice done this night upol
Goblet and Grobe. So help me God" Ill
pressed the hand Of the judge as he spoke
kissed the book, aud handed II to Tom Hanson
who repeated the same formula, and was fol
lowed by the rest of lis In turn.
This ceremony, rude though II was, was IN
J exprcssibly solemn. There was no passion u
bitterness In the tones of the Lynchcrs, as the
took the oath; but this very quictncss Of man
! ner, when you knew the men, was In itself TIL
, best guarantee Of the reality and significance Il
their vow.
Shortly after this we were ushered by III
storekeeper into another room, where thcr
, were piles Of blankets and heaps Of shecpskin
| With these We speedily constructed most con
, Portable beds, aud. with the exception of Han
, son aud Cartright, who had the arrangement
y to make for the carrying out Of the sci
Q tence, and did not sleep that night, we wei
: soon buried IN sound slumber,
tt.... a Il